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The Keystone XL pipeline is squarely in President Obama’s court. He should approve the full project – for the jobs, economic lift and strengthened energy security this shovel-ready project would provide for our country. (Photo below by Joe Wertz/StateImpact Oklahoma)

The EPA was out yesterday with a letter urging yet even more delay for the Keystone XL pipeline – a project that already has been thoroughly reviewed by the State Department over more than four and a half years. In that context, EPA’s simply trying to heap delay on top of delay. Let's have a look at the first of EPA’s objections to State’s latest review:

The DSEIS reports that lifecycle GHG emissions from oil sands crude could be 81% greater than emissions from the average crude refined in the U.S. in 2005 on a well-to-tank basis, and 17% greater on a well-to-wheels basis.This difference may be even greater depending on the assumptions made.

On the Keystone XL pipeline, President Obama’s decision boils down to this: Is the $7 billion project in the United States’ national interest? Economic, energy and environmental considerations figure into the answer, but ultimately the president is charged with determining whether Keystone XL will make our country stronger and safer without significantly impacting the environment and the people along its 1,179-mile route.

Governor Andrew Cuomo has put natural-gas development on hold yet again, plainly thanks to the power of New York’s environmental lobby, writes Tom Shepstone. But the real issue has nothing to do with the supposed health concerns cited by the opponents of “fracking.” No, the delay has been engineered by some extremely powerful special interests — New York’s bluebloods —at the expense of the hopes of land-owning and blue-collar New Yorkers.

In a turnaround that industry insiders describe as nothing short of amazing, the U.S. energy picture has drastically changed. Oil and natural gas drilling is now booming in places like Texas’ Eagle Ford, and the Bakken formation in North Dakota, bringing jobs and prosperity to those regions.

Last Thursday approval of the Keystone XL pipeline came up during the House Minority Leader Weekly Briefing. Here is what Rep. Pelosi had to say, via CSPAN transcript

THEY WERE INTERVIEWING SOMEBODY FROM THE AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE. AND HE SAID, OH, THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS. THAT'S NOT TRUE. ENERGY IN OUR COUNTRY, YOU KNOW THIS IS ALL FOR EXPORT. SO WHATEVER YOU THINK ABOUT IT, I KNOW I WANT TO SEE WHAT THE REPORT IS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT ON IT AND SEE WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT IT, BUT -- THE OIL IS FOR EXPORT. THERE AREN'T THAT MANY JOBS CONNECTED WITH IT.

“By any objective measure the most responsible source (for imported oil) is Canada. … There’s enough oil in the oil sands to meet the U.S. need for imported oil for at least the next 100 years. This could mean, with additional U.S. oil, independence for North America by 2030. What a great thing energy independence would be for both our countries.”

Another “face” of the Keystone XL pipeline project is Billy Rogers, an employee of the Michels Corporation and a member of the Operating Engineers Local 139. Rogers is among 4,000 U.S. workers already building the southern leg of Keystone XL in Texas and Oklahoma – which didn’t need presidential approval to move forward. Rogers talked to reporters at an event on Tuesday hosted by the National Association of Manufacturers:

"Working on the Gulf Coast Project has afforded me a good income that allows me to support my family. In addition, the construction of this project has had a significant impact in the local communities in which we work as the hundreds of crew members spend their money locally in restaurants, grocery stores, shops – everyone is benefiting. … Contrary to what people may see or read, as a front-line worker on the Gulf Coast Project, I have personally witnessed the support from the local residents we deal with daily during construction. They are happy to see us. … It’s mind-boggling to see how far this spreads” economically.

Americans want the Keystone XL pipeline built. There’s no mistaking that in polling, including a new one we’ll get into down below.

Of all the Americans who’ve waited more than four years for the president to give the full Keystone XL the go-ahead, few have more on the line than thousands of building and construction workers. For them it’s bread on the table. Sean McGarvey, president of the AFL-CIO’s Building and Construction Trade Department, talked to reporters this week about his union’s support for the project's approval:

“For the skilled craft professionals that I am privileged to represent, the past four years have not been a recession, they have been a depression. Today, the unemployment rate in the U.S. construction industry is 16 percent.”

First, Rasmussen reports that the project, after more than four years on the Obama administration’s “to do” list, enjoys support from 59 percent of those surveyed. Just 28 percent oppose. Strong supporters (34 percent) outnumber strong opponents (10 percent) by more than three to one. There’s been strong support for the Keystone XL in polls by Fox News and Pew Research.

Speaking of Pew, last week they released another of their periodic surveys showing the issues Americans think are most important as President Obama and Congress get to work this year. Topping the list is strengthening the economy (86 percent say it’s a “top priority”), followed by improving the job situation (79 percent) and reducing the budget deficit (72 percent). What’s this got to with the Keystone XL pipeline?

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Energy Tomorrow is a project of the American Petroleum Institute – the only national trade association that represents all aspects of America’s oil and natural gas industry – speaking for the industry to the public, Congress and the Executive Branch, state governments and the media.